Go West Young Man (Michael W. Smith album)

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Go West Young Man
Go West Young Man album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Michael W. Smith
ReleasedOctober 1, 1990
Recorded1990
GenreChristian rock
Length42:59
LabelReunion
ProducerWayne Kirkpatrick, , Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith chronology
Christmas
(1989) 		Go West Young Man
(1990) 		Change Your World
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic3/5 stars[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout4/5 stars[2]

Go West Young Man is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith, released on October 1, 1990 through Reunion. This record was his first attempt at mainstream success. It was successful, as it scored a Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit with "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991.

Background[]

Michael W. Smith most notably performed "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on Cash Box[3] (#5 AC), and "For You" on various shows, for example The Arsenio Hall Show, to promote the album. The record was a mainstream crossover success for Smith and became a platinum album. Videos were produced for both singles released and received much radio airplay. Several of the songs from this album made it into his greatest hits album, The First Decade (1983-1993).

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Go West Young Man"Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick4:01
2."Love Crusade"Smith, Kirkpatrick4:23
3."Place in This World"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Amy Grant4:01
4."For You"Smith, Kirkpatrick, William Owsley III4:10
5."How Long Will Be Too Long"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Grant4:37
6."Seed to Sow"Smith, Kirkpatrick6:14
7."Cross My Heart"Smith, Kirkpatrick4:37
8."Emily"Smith, Kirkpatrick4:17
9."Agnus Dei"Smith5:09
10."1990"Smith1:42

Personnel[]

  • Michael W. Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, keyboard programming, backing vocals (2), acoustic piano (9)
  • Mike Lawler – additional keyboards (1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), Hammond B3 organ (5), programming (6, 10), synth bass (6, 10), drums (6, 10), percussion (6, 10), synth solo (7), keyboard programming
  • Bryan Lenox – additional keyboards (1, 7), percussion (2, 3, 4, 6–10), drums (3, 4, 6, 7, 9), keyboard programming
  • Trace Scarborough – keyboard programming
  • Tommy Sims – bass guitar (1, 2, 5, 8), synth bass (4), stick bass (9), keyboard programming
  • Matt Pierson – synth bass (3), fretless bass (7)
  • Dann Huff – guitar (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
  • Jerry McPherson – guitar (4, 5, 7, 9)
  • Will Owsley – guitar (4), guitar solo (4)
  • Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 10), guitar (10)
  • Paul Leim – drums (1, 2, 5, 8), percussion (2)
  • Terry McMillan – percussion (1–9)
  • Mark Douthit – saxophone (1, 3, 4)
  • Sam Levine – saxophone (2, 6)
  • Barry Green – trombone (1–4), trombone solo (4)
  • Chris McDonald – horn arrangements (1–4, 6), trombone (6)
  • Mike Haynes – trumpet (1, 3, 4, 6)
  • George Tidwell – trumpet (1)
  • The Nashville String Machine – strings (3, 8, 9)
  • Ronn Huff – string arrangements and conductor (3, 8, 9)
  • Carl Gorodetzsky – concertmaster and contractor (3, 8, 9)
  • Chris Eaton – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7)
  • Wayne Kirkpatrick – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 10)
  • Jimmy Marks – backing vocals (2)
  • Chris Harris – backing vocals (4, 6, 7, 10)
  • Vince Ebo – backing vocals (5)
  • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (5, 6)
  • The American Boychoir – choir (9); Nathan Wadley – soloist
    • Africa Children's Choir (6); arranged by Michael W. Smith and Ronn Huff; Choir director – Gertrude Kafeero; Tour leader – Darla Peters

Production

  • Producer – Michael W. Smith
  • Co-producer – Bryan Lenox
  • Vocal producer – Wayne Kirkpatrick
  • Executive producers – Michael Blanton and Terry Hemmings
  • Engineers – Bill Deaton, Pasquale Delvillagio, Pat Hutchinson, Gregg Jampol, Patrick Kelly, Brent King, Bryan Lenox, Don Martin, Dave Murphy, Rick Rowe, Bret Teegarden, and Bill Whittington.
  • Mixing – Humberto Gatica, assisted by David Parker and Alejandro Rodriguez.
  • Recorded at BMG Studio (New York, NY); Sound-trek Studio (Kansas City, MO); Deer Valley Studio (Franklin, TN); Treasure Isle, Omni Sound, The Benson Studio, Digital Recorders, and 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
  • Mixed at 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
  • Editing – Nick Palladino at Scene Three, Inc. (Nashville, TN).
  • Mastering – Stephen Marcussen at Precision Disc Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
  • Art direction – Buddy Jackson and Deb Rhodes
  • Design – Beth Middleworth for Jackson Design
  • Photography – Mark Tucker
  • Styling – Mary Jane Starke
  • A&R – Don Donahue and Richard Headen
  • MWS personal assistant – Elizabeth Leighton Jones

Certifications[]

Country Peak Sales Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Canada (CRIA) n/a 50,000 Gold
United States (RIAA) 74 1,000,000 Platinum

Charts[]

Chart (1991) Position
US Billboard 200[4] 74
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[5] 1
Year-end chart (1991) Position
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) ("Place in This World")[6] 77
Billboard Top Christian Albums[7] 1

References[]

  1. ^ Go West Young Man – Michael W. Smith allmusic
  2. ^ Michael W. Smith – Go West Young Man Jesusfreakhideout.com
  3. ^ U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries – 1990 – 1996, page 29
  4. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard.
  6. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 21, 1991). "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 103 (51): YE-14.
  7. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 21, 1991). "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Christian Contemporary Albums". Billboard. 103 (51): YE-38.
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